3 US biomedical engineering schools with cutting-edge programs

From artificial hearts and advanced prosthetic limbs to medical X-ray imaging, MRI, and PET scans, biomedical engineering is responsible for many life-saving and life-enhancing technologies today. Marrying the principles and problem-solving techniques of engineering to biology and medicine has led to countless advances that improve human health and healthcare at all levels. Doctors can diagnose, analyse, treat, and aid recovery better thanks to this multidisciplinary field. And there are more breakthroughs to come, judging from the advances thus far in stem cell engineering and the 3-D printing of biological organs. If a career in advancing human health and well-being using engineering interests you, finding the right university is pivotal. Here, we have narrowed down the list to three of the leading biomedical engineering schools in the US:

Over 100 US patents have been awarded based on research from Purdue University’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. Source: Purdue University

Purdue University

When it comes to innovation, Purdue University’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering is prolific. Over 100 US patents have been awarded based on the school’s research. Purdue ranks fifth for the Most Innovative University in the US and fifth in the world for utility patents. The accolades do not end there: Purdue is the number one destination for international students in STEM disciplines and holds the fourth spot in the list of top graduate programmes in engineering.

Credentials like these mean that graduate students are exposed to proven resources that help build their knowledge, skills, and experience. For those seeking to fast-track a career in the biomedical industry, the Professional Master’s Degree (PMP) in Biomedical Device Development should be your top choice.

There are numerous areas to study for success in the biomedical industry. This includes the life cycle of a product, such as medical device development, laboratory and clinical testing, quality systems, and regulatory submission and approval processes. These topics and more are offered through courses in the programme. What’s more, you can earn a graduate certificate in Regulatory Affairs and Regulatory Science for Medical Devices while working toward your PMP.

The PMP will take you through the design and development of biomedical products and processes and improve your ability to make ethical and socially responsible engineering decisions. This degree features a professional development emphasis, which ensures you have the required business acumen and effective communication and leadership skills.

The programme includes an optional six- to 12-month industry internship in a biomedical company where you can put your newfound knowledge to the test. With this industry immersion, you gain valuable hands-on experience as you complete your degree. Courses can be completed in as little as one year, helping you graduate with a competitive edge while saving money, as Purdue has frozen tuition for the past 13 years and the local cost of living in Indiana is affordable.

The Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering is consistently ranked as one of the best biomedical engineering departments in the US. Source: University of Southern California

University of Southern California

The Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) is home to internationally recognised research centres, including the Biomedical Simulations Resource (NIH) and the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics. Many discoveries into commercially viable biotechnologies capable of improving human health and well-being have been birthed at this department. 

The school is consistently ranked as one of the best biomedical engineering departments in the US because of its research per faculty and being one of the country’s most translational and entrepreneurial departments. Another benefit is its location; thousands of biomedical companies are peppered around Southern California. This opens up more job opportunities for the 200 graduate students pursuing their master’s or PhD degrees. 

For those looking for a graduate programme that will lead you to a career in developing medical devices and diagnostic techniques, USC has a Master of Science in Medical Device & Diagnostic Engineering. In this programme, you pick up the knowledge and skills required for the field as well as aspects of medical product regulation and product development. You take on 26 to 32 units of coursework designed to be completed in three semesters of full-time study. You may opt only to do coursework or do coursework and a master’s thesis.

At the Department of Biomedical Engineering, 33 patents have been filed, and 181 research papers have been published in 2021. Source: The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin

At The University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, students can access state-of-the-art facilities with the latest lab equipment and technology. You choose from the Biomedical Engineering Building, which opened in 2008, or the newly constructed Engineering Education and Research Centre (EERC). Students may even take advantage of the powerful computing facilities at the university’s Advanced Computing Centre, home to one of the most powerful supercomputers in the US. 

The biomedical engineering building provides 106,000 square feet for inspired teaching and research. As graduate-level students often take part in research, having all these facilities at their fingertips makes a difference. In fact, 33 patents have been filed, and 181 research papers have been published in 2021. It helps that the faculty often contribute to the biomedical field internationally and have even been recognised by prestigious organisations such as the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Medicine and National Academy of Inventors. No matter your degree specialisation, you can learn a lot from experienced educators. 

The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers two pathways to earn a master’s degree. If you are a current student majoring in biomedical engineering you can choose the BS BME/MSE Integrated degree. In just five years, you could have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. The other option is the MS degree specifically designed for current medical students. Created in collaboration with the Dell Medical School, this programme aims to train physicians who can practise both medicine and biomedical research, armed with the quantitative analytical skills of an engineer. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International